saw this HHR today. In fact two of them that had a strange "defect??" on the lower windshield seal near the VIN. Seems there is a gap there water can run through easily.

I wonder if this can cause issues with electronics in the steering area. Every other vehicle I looked at on the line in every other brand from KIA to Venzas, Pontiacs, Jeep... had a weather proof seal across the entire length of the lower windshield lip.

Has anyone noticed this gap on the driver's side and is it an issue?

 

It's not an issue - I suspect that the lower seal you are looking at, is part of the cowl cover and is not totally waterproofed as such. The cowl cover hides the ugly bits, like the windshield wiper mechanism. Like most modern vehicles, the HHR Windshield is bonded to the body. In other words the glass is glued to the windshield frame which provides the water seal to the interior of the car.

If you look down through the "opening" in the lower part of the window at the VIN plate, just forward and below the plate you can see the seal that attaches and weatherproofs the glass to the body.

Does that make sense?

Here is a picture of the lower part of the windshield with the cowl removed (third picture in post # 14) - https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...t=wiper&page=2

The cowl does have a rubber seal along the top side that rests against the lower part of the glass - and it should fit snugly - if there are gaps it has been installed improperly (likely after someone replaced the windshield).

 

The Whopper mobile must be special. Neither of my HHRs had a rubber seal on the cowl, it just lays there. But then, you seem to have a few extra trim bits that mine haven't had.

 

It should have dual citizenship !!!

 

AH ok. just wanted to ensure they all had this gap. Drove it again today. But dealer isn't budging from $13400. Not sure about paying that for an 08 2LT with 20K. Jeese the window buttons had not moved to the doors yet!!

 

2009. Have you checked blue book? If they are calling it "GM Certified Pre-Owned" they are adding $700 to the KBB.com price. But still, out of Power Train and B to B. Are they providing any extended warranty? Seems like serious cash and fast feet would do it. Just a couple of bargaining points.

 

That is the area where there is a gap. The seal over the lower part of the windshield. No other vehicle has a gap I could slide a piece of paper through. The gap in this particular vehicle under the VIN is wide enough to drop the thickness of a couple ice cream sticks down in there.

The only way to seal the gap would be with silicone adhesive,

 

Ford dealer. no warranty and they would not accept $12K cash out the door. ( sales tax is capped at $300 here. Title is $80) Says Manual transmission but in reality an Automatic.


http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1

 

The cowl cover on mine is black plastic and is topped with a rubber strip that rests against the glass near the bottom of the windshield. It is not waterproof however as there are small gaps at the end of the cowl. Take a look at the passengers side of the cowl cover - there are some open holes covered with mesh - so it is not meant to be waterproof at all.

Siliconing it to the windshield would make it difficult to get the cowl cover off later for servicing the wiper mechanism.

 

Did you wave green at them while walking out? I once had a salesman literally on his knees at the door grasping at my cuffs.

The cowl cover does nothing mechanically, purely cosmetic. I can get a ballpoint pen into the gap.